Travel Snacks

My body loves routine and schedules, so whenever I travel it slightly stresses me out because my body feels "out of whack." I also have to eat every 3-4 hours or you will find Ms. Grumpy -sluggish, hungry, and tired....soo this has made me learn how to travel with some great healthy snack options to keep me energized AND prepared throughout my trip!

 

1. One of the easiest snacks to bring along are almonds. I love almonds and they definitely leave you feeling satisfied. Grab a handful and divide into multiple baggies for easy grab and go snacks. Raw almonds are of course the best for you, but I absolutely love these cocoa roasted almonds, delish. We buy a big container of these from Sams!

2. Next up would be homemade beef jerky. Beef jerky is a great source of protein but almost all of the store bought jerky is processed and is filled with unnecessary ingredients. I have found a recipe I love and this has now become a weekly staple in our household. We usually buy 1 1/2 - 2 lbs. of eye of round steak from Yoder Meats. They will then slice the beef, jerky style for us which is perfect. We then mix this recipe together and let the jerky marinade over night. The next day we pop on the dehydrator for a few hours and voila - delicious jerky!

1/4 c. tamari (we sometimes use liquid aminos instead)
Juice of one lemon
1/2 tsp. onion salt
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/8 tsp. sea salt
1/8 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

How easy is this??

3. Then there are Quest bars, my new found love. These actually contain legit good for you ingredients and have a ton of nutrients, you would never imagine them to taste so good! Pack a few of these instead of stopping for chex mix or other processed and sodium loaded snacks. My favorite flavors are cookie dough, cinnamon roll, and apple pie!

 

 

4. I have also recently stumbled upon these which I am getting ready to order, so I have yet to try them but will post a review once I do. I have a good feeling that I will fall in love though:)

 Biotrust Protein Cookies which come in oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip.

5. Next up are another snack I have recently come across which is delish. I'm totally not an edamame fan, that was until I tried these. These things are so yummy and are loaded with 14g. of protein in only a 1/4 cup plus low in fat and calories.

 

 

 



6. Okay last one I promise...can you tell I like my snacks?! Who doesn't like corn nuts? Well I recently saw a recipe for Roasted Chickpeas that was supposed to be very similar to corn nuts so I thought I'd give it a try. Much to my surprise I loved them, they are addicting!

 



2 Tblsp. EVOO
1 Tblsp. Cumin
1 tsp. Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp. Chili Powder
A pinch of sea salt and ground pepper
A dash of crushed red pepper
1 can of Chickpeas, rinsed and drained.

Mix dressing and then toss chickpeas to coat thoroughly. Lay on a baking sheet on a single layer and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes tossing occasionally until slightly crispy. I also think these would be great by just tossing with a dry Ranch seasoning packet, I'll have to give that a try next time!

So these are my top picks for easy travel snacks, but you could also make homemade trail mix or granola to take along, energy balls, or even protein powder that could easily be mixed with water if needed.

 

Enjoy!

A little fitness survey...

Happy Friday Folks!

I couldn't be more excited for a weekend at home. Last weekend was almost like a blur it happened so fast, Pat and I headed to Nebraska for his cousin Mandy's wedding bright and early Saturday morning. It was a beautiful wedding and great to see a lot of his family that we don't get to see very much. We had to leave early Sunday morning since it was Father's Day, we hurried home to make lunch at my parent's house with my whole side of the family. And then it was Monday again..

 

Me and Lover Boy

Pat and his Aunt Beth

The beautiful ceremony and couple

 

So needless to say I'm looking forward to a semi-relaxing weekend, hopefully will get some stuff done around the house before we head to Beaver Lake next Thursday with some of our great friends- Nick & Ashley! Can't wait to sit on a boat and enjoy the sun for a few days!

 

As I was reading one of my favorite blogs today, Peanut Butter Fingers, I came across this POST  thought I'd repeat, 1. Because I love surveys (weird I know) and 2. Because I love fitness:)

 

 

1. What did you eat for breakfast?
A piece of toasted Ezekiel bread topped with some avocado and one fried egg with a side of fresh strawberries.

2. How much water do you drink a day?
I drink at least a gallon of water a day. People think I'm crazy... but water does a body good:)

3. What is your current favorite workout?
Currently I love Title Boxing's Power Hour Class. Pat and I became members a few months ago, and it is such an AWESOME workout, plus I get board with the same ole' cardio so it's nice to mix things up!

4. How many calories do you eat a day?
Most days I'm not sure, but when I'm counting I try to stick around 1200-1500

5. What are your favorite healthy snacks?
Oh goodness- I love my snacks! Here are my most favs: beef jerky, celery with almond butter, string cheese with some turkey breast, hummus with carrots and cucumber (I make my own sweet potato hummus and it is fabulous!), almonds (raw, cocoa, smoky flavors), protein shakes, homemade energy balls, quest protein bars

6. What do you usually eat for lunch?
I pack my lunch and snacks every day. For lunch I try to stick with a big salad with either tuna, steak, or chicken. I make my own salad dressing as well or even just use some lemon juice. I may top it with some fresh fruit and nuts or dried cranberries.

7. What is your favorite body part to strength train?
Shoulders!

8. What is your least favorite body part to strength train?
Chest (probably because this is my weakest area)

9. What are your “bad” food cravings?
I have a major sweet tooth, so it definitely takes major discipline, but when I do "splurge" my picks would definitely be cake, especially the frosting:) or ice cream and anything with chocolate!

10. Do you take vitamins or supplements?
Yes! Multivitamin, Calcium, Vitamin B, Fish Oil, L-Carnatin, CLA, Probiotics

11. How often do you eat out?
Usually only on the weekends, 1 to 2 times a week

12. Do you eat fast food?
I hate fast food. But if its my only option I try to shoot for a salad if possible and nothing fried, ever.

13. Who is your biggest supporter?
Patty boy and my Mom and Dad, hands down.

14. Do you have a gym membership?
Yes- we have memberships to both the YMCA, Title Boxing Club, as well as a Yoga studio

15. How many hours of sleep do you get a night?
8- and its so important!

16. Do you have a “cheat” day?
No I don't have cheat days, but I will "splurge" a little more on the weekends, I try to keep it really clean during the week.

17. Do you drink alcohol?
Honestly since college I really don't. These days one drink will give me a headache and alcohol just does bad, bad things to my body, so it's just not worth it to me, I feel so much better without it.

18. Do you have a workout buddy?
My Momma:) or my good friend RaeAnn, we share a lot of the same fitness passions! Most of the time I'm solo though, which is totally cool with me, its my "me" time.

19. What is the best thing that has changed about your life since committing to a healthy lifestyle?
I've always enjoyed fitness and nutrition. But over the last few years I have grown an even stronger love for not only fitness but living a healthy lifestyle. I'm blessed with umm... probably the worst metabolism ever. I've always had to watch what I eat, but over the last few years have noticed it has gotten even harder. So you have to make a choice. And I can truly tell a difference in what "clean, whole" foods do for your body. It's definitely a lifestyle you have to choose to live, and in my mind is worth it in the long run without a doubt.

20. What was the last healthy thing you did?
Went to Title Boxing after work tonight, great way to end a long week!



Summer Style

 

Happy weekend friends! I'm in almost a month now as a Stylist for Stella & Dot and I absolutely love it! Fashion is such a huge passion of mine, so to be able to incorporate it into my life as a "job" has been so fun! My "real" job is extremely stressful to say the least, so to now have something to look forward to has been such a breath of fresh air. I truly believe in this product and line which makes it all that much easier.

 

Here's a little outfit combo I threw together- Summer Style!

 

Jewerly/ Stella and Dot (these are two of my favorite pieces) Maldives Necklace, $118 and Gilded Arrow, $39
Skirt / Net-a-porter Tibi Pleated Skirt
Shoes/ Miss Selfridge Woody Tan Lace Up Wedge, $35 (bargain!)
Vest/ Stylebop Rag & Bone Burney Vest
Shirt/ Billabong

 

XOXO- Amber:)

A day of nothing

I'm currently enjoying my "me" time that I haven't had much of these days. We don't have a single thing planned for the weekend, and I can't remember that last time this occurred. I'm soaking it in, and wishing this weekend would not end.

 

I slept in until 8am, O.M.G that felt amazing! I can't remember the last time I did that either! Made the hubs breakfast-

We are addicted to to this Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash that I mentioned HERE. Topped with a few eggs this stuff is delicious and the perfect meal pre workout.
 

We got in a great workout this morning at Title Boxing then did some quick grocery shopping. I'm now working on some of the biz stuff for my new adventure, which I mentioned HERE.

By the time we got home it was time for lunch so I ate some leftover chicken salad that I had made earlier on in the week.

 I just threw this simple recipe together. We had smoked some organic whole chickens so I took some of the chicken and shredded it to make some chicken salad. I added some non-fat greek yogurt and a tad bit of low-fat mayo, lemon juice, fresh parsley and cilantro, salt, pepper, some chopped apple, pumpkin seeds, and a handful of unsweetened dried cranberries. Delish and filling!

We then plan on heading to Church and then dinner at Ciao for a date night. Something else that hasn't happened in several weeks. We've had a gift card to Ciao since Christmas, lol I told you we don't go out much. I've been hearing such great things about this place so I'm super excited to try it!!

Oh- I also wanted to share this awesome picture from Botanica last weekend. The flowers are absolutely gorgeous right now!



We celebrated Mother's Day by taking Pat's Mom to lunch at La Fiesta after Church and then headed to Botanica to enjoy the nice weather and beautiful flowers. We then came home and I spent the afternoon cooking up a storm for my family. We grilled some delicious hamburgers and sausages followed with some yummy coleslaw, grilled sweet potatoes, jalapeno poppers, corn casserole, and pink lemonade cupcakes. We were STUFFED to say the least. It was a great day spent with both of our Mom's so blessed to have them both in our lives! 

New adventures...



Welp- I've taken on a new adventure, something I am truly passionate about! Have you heard of this company?? Please tell me yes. I've been obsessed with this stuff for some time now, so finally decided why not sell?! Stella & Dot designs an irresistible line of fashion jewelry and fashion accessories that can be purchased exclusively at home jewelry parties or online. What I really love is that even the celebs where this stuff, their products are continually featured in People, InStyle, Lucky, Vogue, and more!
I love the idea and concept, the products, the amazing women I have met thus far, etc. Please let me know if you'd be interested in hosting a trunk show either in person or online- what does this mean for you?? Well free jewelry of course! There are multiple ways of getting a hold of me- visit www.stelladot.com/amberoehm or my facebook page- www.facebook.com/stelladotandamber, or email is fine as well adoehm86@gmail.com! Even if you are not local we can still do an online party and you will receive the same amazing benefits!

Reese Witherspoon in the Serenity Stone Drops


 

Beth Behrs and Katherine Heigl in the Bahari Necklace

Katy Perry in Renegade Cluster Bracelet (one of my top picks)

Selena Gomez in Rebel Pendant Necklace

I just can't get enough of this stuff... until next time:)

Ps- Make sure to become a follower of my blog for new updates/specials/promotions as well! I will post on here also. If you do not know how to become a follower- just scroll to the bottom of the page and on the lower right hand side- click - join site, you will then receive any updates, would love to have you follow along!

$880 on shoes

It's not a big secret that I have a major shopping obsession, which I know stresses my husband out quite a bit. But a girl has to have a hobby right?! So I found this extremely funny when Patty boy told me about his dream the other night-- it went something like this. I came home with a huge shopping bag from Foot Locker, which entailed $880 worth of shoes and I over drafted our checking account-- LOL. First of all I can think of many shoe stores I could spend $880 on shoes much before Foot Locker. Still funny though...

So what shoes could I spend that kind of money on???

How about these I'm currently obsessing over..




Who wouldn't want a pair of one of the hottest trends right now- cage shoes?! These are my fav- Vince Camuto via Nordstrom, although I have many others I'm drooling over..

I love these Dolce Vita wedges via Nordstrom. I actually tried these on and they were super comfy even more of a plus. The thick straps and neutral colors would make them good with just about any outfit.

 Oh how I long for a pair of Sam Edelman's- especially these spicy little things. Wouldn't these be cute with a fun bright colored dress?? Via Piperlime

 

I love these cute little turquoise flats also be Dolce Vita via Piperlime- this brand is starting to become one of my favs.

Just simple little black wedges - currently at on the hautelook website for $49, now that is a steal!

And the list could go on and on...

What I ate Wednesday

Boy, is it only Wednesday? I feel like it should be Friday tomorrow. We have a busy weekend ahead of us, moving my little sis home from college and then celebrating Mother's Day, but it will be nice to spend some good time with the fam. Lately, I feel like I have realized much more- family is such a blessing, a blessing that is so easily taken for granted. They are really the only ones who will always have your back, be there for you at absolutely any second, the good and the bad, be honest when you need to hear the truth, support anything you do, and continually give you the confidence and courage to persevere! And that is what truly matters...unconditional love.

I haven't gotten much sleep the last few nights, I'm usually out once I hit the bed and never budge until the alarm goes off, but for some reason I've tossed and turned all week, finding it impossible to sleep. It's finally catching up with me, I could literally fall asleep as I'm typing this. I pray for a good nights' rest!

So here's what I ate today on this Wednesday--

Breakfast- Easy Delicious Breakfast Hash courtesy of one of my fav food blogs, love this girl and the blog. It never disappoints.

Via PaleOMG

Snack- protein shake with unsweetened almond milk


Lunch- I made a yummy salad with spinach leaves, some turkey bacon, feta cheese, sliced turkey, and some pumpkin seeds, topped with a little EVOO and vinegar. This held me over until my preworkout snack.


Snack- celery with natural almond butter, lowfat string cheese with a few slices of organic turkey breast


I got out of work on time to make my 5:30pm title boxing class, my tiredness was catching up with me and I was honestly dreading the class, but once I got going I felt great, and was SO happy that I didn't skip, its just what I needed after a day/week like I've had. However, my body is now completely exhausted- I did some intense strength training last night- shoulders, biceps, and back, and after punching a bag for an hour tonight, holy cow-- I can barely lift my arms.


Dinner- I came home to dinner on the table- I love these kind of meals:) Patty boy through together some chicken fajita meat (we buy our chicken from Yoder meats- you can find pastured and cage free chicken there) and sauteed peppers/onions, topped with some salsa verde.

I then threw together a quick side of some yummy coleslaw, this is my new favorite go-to side dish. It's delish and dairy free, you would never know! You can find the recipe HERE. Another blog favorite. Why can't I spend my day reading blogs??

Via Detoxinita

That's it for today, its time for some shut-eye.

Food blogger? Why not?

This past weekend was a complete whirlwind. I had an extremely stressful week at work, what's new though? Absolutely no free time at all. Then Friday we were out of town for a funeral, followed with an extremely long day on Saturday. I helped a friend with a wedding out in McPherson, the wedding was absolutely beautiful, so sad that the weather wasn't nicer, hard to believe its May. I literally felt like I had been hit by a truck on Sunday though, I was then stupid enough to go for a 3 mile run and a long walk with Buddy, which only made matters worse. A person who sits at a desk every day definitely gives their body a wake up call after standing for 13 hours, holy cow!

 

So I fell a bit off track over the weekend and need to get back on track, so I thought why not blog what I eat a few days a week to hold myself accountable? Sure sounds like a great idea. So- if you are not interested in knowing what I ate today then feel no need to read any further:)

 

Within the last few months I completed the Whole30 program (which I would definitely recommend). During this program I can't even describe how good I felt by the end of the 30 days! I used to be an avid diet coke drinker, and have now not had a diet coke in months! I've been researching a lot and I had no idea that diet soda, or any soda for that matter has the same affects on your body as alcohol does, crazy! Needless to say, I love the way my body felt after eating whole foods, no processed junk at all. I felt stronger, more awake, more energized, my digestive system was better, and I even think it helped clear up my allergies! So during this little 30 day deal, I cut out gluten and dairy among many other things. Gluten was easy, dairy was definitely tough though. However, I felt so good after the program I've continued to leave gluten out of my diet and have only added back in a bit of dairy because I loved the way I felt. I've quit worrying about calories and try to eat 5-6 small meals a day. I've also gone organic, which I LOVE. I honestly can tell a difference in the produce, meats, etc. in my mind definitely worth the extra money! So after completely detoxing your body from these foods when you do indulge, you definitely FEEL it on your body, and I always find it hard to get back on track. Soo... self- let's stay motivated!

 

 



Breakfast- 3 egg whites, 1 egg, 2 pieces uncured bacon and spinach leaves sauteed in Ghee (clarified butter), Coffee with low fat coconut milk

Snack- Protein shake with unsweetened almond milk and handful of raw almonds

Lunch-  Tuna with 1 tblsp low fat mayo and mustard, mixed with pumpkin seeds and one serving of nut thins w/ flax seeds

Snack- One cup raw celery with raw almond butter, 2 slices turkey breast and 1 piece low fat string cheese

Workout- 1 hour cycle class- 10 min leg band workout- 2 mile walk

Dinner- Baked Siracha Salmon and Roasted Broccoli drizzled with EVOO

This entire day is about 1600 calories, a bit more than I would like to have had but I definitely got in a lot of protein- this comes to about 147 grams and I typically try and stay between 100-125 grams of protein but I also cut out most carbohydrates today to try and help bounce back.

Lastly, you may wonder what this is? Well - I continually try and get my husband to eat healthy, but its not the easiest task. One of his favorite foods are chips, so I decided to make my own version. I'm currently dehydraing some sweet potatoes to make sweet potato chips, I'm so excited to see how they turn out! Basically just slice one large sweet potato into very small slices, I then topped with some salt, pepper, paprika, and chives. Great snack option!

Not in Kansas anymore...

I love my sheltered bubble I live in here in Kansas. After 5 nights in Los Angeles, I definitely was ready to get back to my little world here in Kansas. It's always nice to get away that's for sure, get away from the day to day stress of life, no cleaning/cooking, or worries for the most part. Traveling sure does make me appreciate the little things in life though. It's always nice to get back home and sleep in your own bed again and get back into your normal schedule. 

 

A few things I love of both- okay let's be honest - Kansas does NOT have the best shopping, in fact I'm ashamed to say this state was voted one of the worst dressed states, now of course I don't agree, but we could definitely use some fashion around this place. I love that on every street you turn in LA there is shopping, and every store you could imagine is right at your finger tips.

 

Oh how I miss this store! I could shop in this place ALL day.

 

 

Okay - so I love the Kardashians (I know, I'm pathetic), so of course I had to make an appearance at their store and see what it was all about.



I will say I was a bit disappointed though. Not a big selection and I couldn't even afford .987891 of anything.

 

I also love the fact that those living in LA are so much more into healthier lifestyles, it's everywhere, people are constantly walking, jogging, biking, hiking, rollerblading, etc. There is such a zest for life out there and I LOVE it. Every restaurant you go to has "healthy" options to fit every need- gluten free, low carb, dairy free, vegetarian, organic, grass fed beef, etc. lots of what you can't find here in Kansas. It's more of a norm.

 

 free range chicken curry salad with grilled pineapple and strawberry salad



protein scramble made with egg whites, turkey bacon, spinach, and cheddar cheese
 

A great hike- we went approximately a total of 4 miles, pretty darn good workout!

 

Overlooking Los Angeles

 

Nicest gym at a hotel I've ever seen (it did suck that you had to pay $20, seriously?!).
I would have liked to bring this home with me.

 

 

However, I will say I feel extremely safe in Kansas- there is less crime, I think the people are nicer, at least in my opinion I almost always feel safe. I can take the dog on a walk or go for a run by myself and be just fine. I wouldn't dare do that in LA. I'm sure you become accustomed to it though. It was scary being so far away from home with all of the Boston stuff going on.

 

I also rarely go anywhere in this city where I don't run into somebody I know, for some that may be annoying, but I love it. It's nice running into people, it gives you that small town feel.

 

The cost of living is also way way cheaper. I couldn't afford to live in LA that's for sure. Sheesh things are expensive. How do people survive?

           

Here are some other highlights of the trip



largest farmer's market I've ever been to, awesomeness.



Just out doing some shoppin'



Relaxing outside for lunch and doing some people watching



Hyatt Regency Century Plaza



The Ivy- sadly no celebrity spotting's.

 

 

Not exaggerating, best drink I've ever had, totally worth it's $20. "The Super Model" it was called.



The Ivy- reviews said if you were going to spot a celebrity this was the place to be. Delicious food as well!



Santa Monica Pier

Great weather to be at the beach

Time for more shopping

Walking down Rodeo Dr. never gets old

Another night out on the town

No words necessary

The waitress forgot to put our orders in so free drinks and dessert, why not?!

Love him.

Next up on the list will be a lake trip.

Memorial weekend is right around the corner!